IN MAY 2024, I travelled to Tokyo to meet Kei Takahashi, Director of Kami Ya Co., Ltd, which engages in various businesses related to art and cultural properties that use paper. In explaining their business, Mr Takahashi said: “We do everything in-house, from manufacturing and selling paper raw materials and paper, to paper processing, mounting and repair, without relying on outside parties. We also strive to spread and develop ‘paper culture’ from all angles, such as assisting and supporting artists, who create works using paper and ink, to selling and installing works.”
Kami Ya Co., Ltd, which comprises the paper department handling paper-related businesses, the mounting department handling mounting and repairs and the art department handling art objects, focuses on introducing outstanding artworks that should be preserved for future generations. The firm is particularly renowned for its expertise in artwork by Yuichi Inoue (1916–1985), a Japanese avant-garde calligrapher. After being shown several impressive paintings in the firm’s gallery, I invited Mr Takahashi to write an article for Arts of Asia exploring key themes defining Yuichi Inoue’s artistic journey and how these elements contributed to his revolutionary approach. For this Autumn 2025 issue, I am very pleased to publish the cover article, “Yuichi Inoue: The Creative Journey of a Calligraphy Innovator”. I am confident that readers will enjoy this special article featuring rare and inspirational works by the artist.
“Bamboo Baskets: Chinese Origins, Japanese Innovations” is a comprehensive exhibition of historic baskets and contemporary kogei designs on view at the University Museum and Art Gallery, The University of Hong Kong (HKU), until October 26th, 2025. Dr Florian Knothe, Director of the University Museum and Art Gallery, said the museum is honoured to present this major exhibition offering an overview of the finest achievements of bamboo art in East Asia. The expansive, yet meticulously curated, selection prompts a reassessment of the central role played by continental prototypes, or karamono (literally “Tang things” or “Chinese things”), in the remarkable development of Japanese basketry over the past 150 years. Supported by two visionary collectors, this exhibition marks the first time that Chinese and Japanese baskets have been presented side by side in Hong Kong.
Dr Knothe commented: “The display of bamboo baskets encompasses more than 200 objects that illustrate a wide range of weaving techniques, tracing the evolution of early Ming and Qing dynasty vessels to their influence on Edo period artefacts and the innovative development of contemporary kogei.” The exhibition relies on exemplary loans from both the Naej Collection in Germany and the Muwen Tang Collection in Hong Kong, and is supported by the Consulate-General of Japan in Hong Kong and the HKU Museum Society. For more information about this superb exhibition, please see the article, “Influence and Innovation: Chinese and Japanese Bamboo Basket Making”, by Florian Knothe.
I would like to thank Tusha Buntin for his insightful article, “Twilight of Idyllic Japan: The Calm Blue Dusk of Shin Hanga”, featuring the Vincent Covello Collection of Japanese woodblock prints. Not only is Dr Covello a serious collector and author, but he is also an enthusiastic promoter of Japanese art, loaning artworks for exhibitions and donating prints to museums. I have also had the great pleasure of viewing his beautiful collection of Shin Hanga prints. Further, he is the creator and owner of one of the largest moss gardens, that is infused with Japanese aesthetics.
From July 17th to November 16th, 2025, the Museum of Cultures in Lugano, Switzerland, presents “Spirit of Simplicity: The AsianArt:Future/The Martin Kurer Collection”. The exhibition explores the dialogue between one of the world’s most important collections of traditional sculptures from the Philippine Cordillera and works of contemporary Asian art collected by AsianArt:Future/Martin Kurer. An unique collection capable of transcending space, time and cultures, it offers a profound reflection on the aesthetic and conceptual value of simplicity. Curated by Nora Segreto and Paolo Maiullari, the exhibition is a journey into the most essential meaning of simplicity, expressed in multiple aspects. Simplicity, in this sense, is understood not as reduction or subtraction, but as a conscious choice of a powerful expressive language. Highlights from the exhibition are illustrated in the interesting article by Dr Nora Segreto.
The exhibition, “More than a Day as a Tiger: The Legacy of Haider Ali and Tipu Sultan of Mysore”, at the Islamic Arts Museum Malaysia in Kuala Lumpur runs from August 6th, 2025 to January 11th, 2026. These two 18th century rulers offered the most persistent resistance to British imperial ambitions in India. Tipu famously proclaimed that it was better to live one day as a tiger than 100 years as a sheep. The father-and-son legacy lives on at the Islamic Arts Museum Malaysia and readers can learn more about the two Muslim dynasts in the fascinating and informative article, “Burning Bright: The Legacy of Haider Ali and Tipu Sultan of Mysore”, written by Lucien de Guise, Head Curator of the Islamic Arts Museum Malaysia.
On July 14th, 2025, I was delighted to attend the opening of the exhibition, “Beyond Emerging Artists”, from Abu Dhabi Art, together with a showcase of selected works from the HSBC collection, titled “Different Perspectives”, presented for the first time in Hong Kong. The exhibition was held from July 15th–27th, 2025 at Sotheby’s Maison, Landmark Chater. “Beyond Emerging Artists” is an annual initiative that provides three emerging artists in the UAE with a platform from which to develop their practice and realise ambitious art projects. The selected artists undertake a year long programme created by a guest curator, with critical feedback and support from the curator. The programme leads towards the realisation of a group exhibition for the Abu Dhabi Art Fair in November each year. The works remain on public display for several months beyond the fair dates and are then exhibited internationally. This programme is sponsored by Abu Dhabi Art’s Global Partner, HSBC.
Finally, I would recommend that our international readers visit the Arts of Asia Calendar (www.artsofasia.com/calendar) to stay up to date with global events in the Asian art world. I also invite readers to browse the Arts of Asia Bookshop (www. artsofasia.com/bookshop), which presents a curated selection of new and rare books and catalogues about Asian art and culture from esteemed authors and publishers. Thank you, as always, to all our readers for your wonderful support. I look forward to meeting you at upcoming Asian art events, auctions and exhibitions.
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